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“Keep the Courts Open”

This article discusses the importance of keeping courts open during crises to ensure justice for all. It highlights the operationalization of leadership goals, staffing and coordination strategies, all-hazards planning, and pandemic preparedness. The impact of Hurricane Ivan on the M.C. Blanchard Courthouse in Pensacola, Florida is used as an example. The article also addresses tough issues related to legal, personnel, technology, and jury management aspects, and provides contact information for further inquiries.

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“Keep the Courts Open”

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  1. “Keep the Courts Open” All-Hazards Planning with Special Consideration to Pandemic Influenza

  2. Justice Anstead Justice Wells Justice Pariente Justice Lewis Leadership • We must deal with crises in a way that protects the health and safety of everyone inside our facilities • We must “keep the courts open” to ensure justice for the people Chief Justices of the Florida Supreme Court, 9/11 to Present

  3. Operationalizing Leadership’s Goals • Staffing • Emergency coordinating officers (ECO) and public information officers (PIO) • Connecting • Court administration, clerks, emergency management, law enforcement, bar associations, fire and rescue, health officials, etc. • Coordinating • Policy (Court Emergency Management Groups) • Operations (Court Emergency Management Teams) • All-Hazards Planning • Administrative and Emergency Procedures • Continuity of Operations Plans (COOP) • Technology Disaster Recovery/Continuity of Business Plans

  4. Examples of the Impact of Hurricane Ivan M.C. Blanchard Courthouse in Pensacola Florida

  5. Examples of the Impact of Hurricane Ivan M.C. Blanchard Courthouse in Pensacola Florida

  6. The Primary Alternate Facility The Pensacola Civic Center

  7. Courtrooms at the Alternate Facility Courtroom with Jury Box at the Alternate Facility

  8. Mission Essential Functions at the Alternate Facility Justice Barbara J. Pariente visits Pensacola to Review the Response to Hurricane Ivan

  9. Long-Term Alternate Facilities Judicial Trailer Park

  10. Pandemic Preparedness • Strategy Endorsed March 2006 • Reassert Strategic Goals • Define Tactical Objectives • Flowchart a Response • List Seven Specific Planning Tasks and Subtasks • Initial Pandemic Plans Submitted November 2006 • Work Continues on the Tough Pandemic Preparedness Issues Copy available at www.flcourts.org click on “Emergency Preparedness”

  11. The Tough Issues • Legal Issues • Unsettled law, public health related cases, bench books, etc. • Personnel Issues • Leave, payroll, employee assistance, workers comp, etc. • Technology (no or limited face-to-face contact) • Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) • Employee Education and Family Preparedness (Two week supply?) • Jury Management • Testing and Exercising Plans

  12. Questions or Comments FYI, some questions I hope you don’t ask: • Has every Florida court fully developed their plans? • Has implementation been like making sausage? • How have the Florida courts addressed NIMS compliance? • How have the Florida courts addressed respiratory protection programs and other PPE policy issues? • How do courts access DHS funds? • Which, if any, ESF do the courts fit into? • How do courts ensure they can protect their records? • What are your experiences with satellite phones? • Are the courts really that important in an emergency response? Contact Information: Greg Cowan 850-922-5460 or cowang@flcourts.org Additional Information: www.flcourts.org(Click on “Emergency Preparedness”)

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